QBs sharp in LSU workout for Tulane

this is a discussion within the College Community Forum; By CARL DUBOIS
Advocate sportswriter
Published: Sep 27, 2007
LSU football coach Les Miles was upbeat after Wednesday’s practice. He passed around compliments, starting with quarterbacks Matt Flynn and Ryan Perrilloux.
“Flynn had a good practice (and) hit a lot ...

LSU football coach Les Miles was upbeat after Wednesday’s practice. He passed around compliments, starting with quarterbacks Matt Flynn and Ryan Perrilloux.

“Flynn had a good practice (and) hit a lot of passes,” Miles said. “Perrilloux had a good practice. I liked the way the defense flew around. I liked the interaction of (special) teams. I liked this practice.

“If we prepare like this, we’ll be prepared Saturday.”

The No. 2-ranked Tigers (4-0) will play Tulane (1-2) at 11 a.m. Saturday in the Superdome. Miles said LSU showed attention to detail, knowledge of assignments and overall sharpness at practice.

Miles sounded like he’s planning to give Flynn, who is working his way back to full strength after suffering a high ankle sprain Sept. 8, plenty of snaps in the game.

“It’s really tough to tell a guy that’s waited until his fifth year to be a starter — and who feels pretty good and who’s kind of ready to play, and who’s going to get nothing but better as we go forward — anything other than he’s probably going to play a lot of football.

“So, I expect him to play a lot of football.”

Flynn said Tuesday he expects to be 100 percent better Saturday than he was a week earlier in LSU’s 28-16 victory against South Carolina.

Personnel update

Center Brett Helms and defensive tackle Marlon Favorite were back after missing practice Tuesday. Guard Will Arnold was absent for the second consecutive day during the portion open to reporters.

Senior linebacker Ali Highsmith missed practice for the second consecutive day after returning home to Miami for a family emergency, Miles said. He said he expects Highsmith to be capable of starting Saturday.

“It’s not like he’s injured in any way, and he certainly understands this defense,” Miles said. “I’ll probably sit and talk to the staff and find out what they would recommend there.

“Ali will (play). It’s just whether or not he’ll start the game is the question.”

Miles said redshirt freshman Kelvin Sheppard would start at weak-side linebacker if Highsmith doesn’t.

Miles said senior receiver Early Doucet, who missed the past two games with a groin injury, is making good progress. Doucet didn’t practice while reporters were on the sideline.

“He’s rounding into health and shape, and we’re optimistic,” Miles said.

“I’m not saying any more than that.”

Miles wouldn’t say whether Doucet will be in uniform Saturday.

For the second consecutive day receiver Jared Mitchell and running back Keiland Williams wore green jerseys, typically reserved for players whose participation in practice is limited to little or no contact.

Miles didn’t mention either player when briefly discussing LSU’s injuries.

Punt returns

LSU began practice outside, working on special teams and individual drills, before going indoors for team drills.

Mitchell stepped into Doucet’s role as punt returner after Doucet’s injury before the Sept. 15 game against Middle Tennessee. The Tigers are hoping for improved punt returns, Miles said.

“Everything you can do to approximate where the punter kicks it or how he kicks it or what the return coverage is like, until you get to the live game, you don’t know,” Miles said. “Certainly, we have pressed coaching time. It won’t be until Saturday morning when we find out what kind of progress we have made there. We are working at it.”

Upset talk

Tulane coach Bob Toledo isn’t conceding victory to LSU, despite saying he knows the talent gap between the programs is enormous. He recalled coaching at Pacific when it played at South Carolina.

“I remember a sign,” he said, “at the corner of their stadium that said, ‘Pacific: A little puddle in the ocean.’ Well, we ended up beating South Carolina.”

That was 1981, the year after South Carolina running back George Rogers won the Heisman Trophy. He was a rookie with the New Orleans Saints when Pacific defeated South Carolina, 23-21.

“We had 105 offensive plays, and we just nickeled them to death and beat them,” Toledo said. “So, to say you can’t beat somebody, no. I mean Appalachian State beat Michigan. It has happened.”